President Biden Signs US Infrastructure Bill into Law

By Paul Scott Abbott

(Editor's Note: Story updates Nov. 8 post upon Infrastructure Bill's passage. Further background is available in Issue 6 / 2021 magazine story, "Infrastructure Hopes.")

President Joe Biden on Nov. 15 signed into law the historic US$1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, decades in the making and having spent nearly five months meandering through Congress.

The House of Representatives' literal 11th-hour passage late the night of Nov. 6 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA, after being approved Aug. 10 by the U.S. Senate, culminated months of political wrangling that had entwined it with a still-larger social spending and climate measure, which the House passed last week.

House approval of the bipartisan infrastructure bill by a 228-to-206 vote – 10 more yeas than needed for passage – came at 11:25 p.m. on a Friday night before a scheduled week-long recess. Its final approval and the stroke of Biden's pen drew praise from a range of transportation and trade groups.


‘Fruits of Their Labor’

“From 2003 to 2017, federal infrastructure spending dropped more than 20 percent and negatively affected those who rely on our highways, roads, bridges, transit, and water and wastewater systems,” said Stan Brown, president of the American Public Works Association. “IIJA promises to upgrade all areas of this country’s infrastructure.”

Elaine Nessle, executive director of the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors, commented: “Our freight system is experiencing an unprecedented level of stress as our economy rebounds from the global pandemic. The IIJA’s historic investment in freight infrastructure comes at a critical time and will enable strategic investments necessary to improve our supply chain infrastructure and ensure it can meet the challenges and demands of tomorrow.”

American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear, said, “Roads and bridges are not political – we all drive on them. A majority in the House realized this today and did what’s right for the country, not themselves.

“After countless hearings and meetings on Capitol Hill,” Spear added, “ATA members will finally see the fruits of their labor – a 38 percent increase in road and bridge funding, and an infusion of highly trained, younger talent into our workforce.”

The American Public Transportation Association also was quick with applause, as President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas, said: “This legislation is vital to building the American infrastructure of the future and is a necessary step in providing the transformational investment in public transportation infrastructure that our country so desperately needs.”

Mark Compton, CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, who serves as president of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, called the measure “an essential step in rebuilding and modernizing the nation’s transportation infrastructure.”

“The reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program and commitments to additional new investment will continue to ensure America’s economic competitiveness, safety and sustainability,” Compton continued.

The National Retail Federation chimed in, too. Its president and CEO, Matthew Shay, said: “This substantial influx of investment in our roads, ports, bridges and other core infrastructure will further enable businesses to meet burgeoning consumer demand and promote economic growth.

“The prioritization of our nation’s fundamental transportation network will mitigate many of the supply chain challenges businesses are experiencing today,” Shay said, “and will pave the way for a 21st century infrastructure system that can withstand future disruptions.”


Governors Weigh In

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, chairman of the National Governors Association, pointed to facets of the IIJA, including US$300 billion in funding for state highway projects and programs, US$73 billion for clean energy transmission upgrades, US$40 billion in grants to states for extending broadband access, US$17 billion toward port infrastructure and US$25 billion for airports.

“Governors commend Congress for setting aside partisan differences to pass a bill that works for the American people,” Hutchinson said. “States stand ready to immediately put these funds to good use to fix and improve our nation’s infrastructure.”

And White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that the ultimate passage of the measure is “proof that delivering for the American people is worth all the painful sausage making.”

Further commentary on the infrastructure bill appears in Issue 6 / 2021 of Breakbulk magazine.

A professional journalist for more than 50 years, U.S.-based Paul Scott Abbott has focused on transportation topics since the late 1980s.


PHOTOS:

Photo 1: Major infrastructure projects, like gateways projects at the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach, will benefit from the infrastructure bill.

Photo 2: Stan Brown, American Public Works Association

Photo 3: Elaine Nessle, Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors

Photo 4: Chris Spear, American Trucking Associations

Photo 5: Paul P. Skoutelas, American Public Transportation Association

Photo 6: Gov. Asa Hutchison, R - Arkansas